Some horses can make you do strange things. Not just the photo on the wall and maybe a stubby holder to commemorate that lowly benchmark win up the country, but the really good horses.
You know, the ones you tantalisingly dream of owning but somehow, sometimes, vicariously you can - as a fan.
Remember Makybe Diva and those masks? Terrific idea at the time but perhaps a little cringing looking back. A marketing tool, a name trademarked as well, but befitting that status of the only triple Melbourne Cup winner, a Cox Plate legend and all those other memories that required a statue to commemorate her.
Black Caviar, Winx? They too have statues. But what about getting those lookalike little colors made up for the kiddies as an excuse to take them to the races and leave them with lifelong memories (as if you were their jockey) and of what a horse that transcends the game is really like. That “I was there” moment.
Amelia’s Jewel isn’t in their league – yet. She’s won just a single Group I – and that in Perth, the Northerly Stakes. She remains just six centimetres short of Invincibility with two teasing seconds that leave her current record at nine from 11, but it is what’s happening around her that has race clubs clamouring for her appearance and more importantly, fans embraced on a once in a lifetime ride.
Take Anthony Beck and sons Ben (22), Will (21) and Ed (17) from Wheeler’s Hill. The tight knit family (with wife/mum Julie) call their place Merry Kirkland, taking that from the street (Marykirk Drive) they live in. An Amelia’s Jewel clubhouse sometimes, party place plenty of other, for family, friends and mates.
You might have briefly seen them behind trainer Simon Miller and jockey Damian Lane when Amelia’s Jewel won at Flemington, or sharing the rocking stage with Peter, Annie and Sammi Walsh, the mare’s generous owners on Friday night at The Valley.
They were the ones in those Hawaiian shirts that have a picture of Pat Carbery winning the WA Guineas on Amelia’s Jewel embedded into the design. (They can do anything in China after you google “Make A Shirt”). Mind you there are only six in captivity, so already a collector’s item, but there is a re-order being placed with demand from strangers and fellow fans skyrocketing and wanting to join their Amelia’s Army.
General Beck, we will call him that, has taken the adulation a little further. He makes chocolates for a living, tonnes of it, 8000 a year actually, with the world’s largest supplier Barry Callebaut, talk about “got the chocolates”, but he now has a jewel tattooed on his wrist. As you do.
He got that after the Let’s Elope, inspired by Sammi, who showed him hers, so to speak, that day. By the way, the wrist is the only part of Beck’s arms free for any additional artwork, but he had to do it. He’s a Collingwood fan as well, so it was good weekend. (There is no Magpies tatt by the way!)
Not just any horse can make you do things like this. So, what is about Amelia’s Jewel? Tagged here last year as “the sexiest horse in racing”, firstly she is good, very good, how good? Well, we aren’t sure yet.
Then there are the people. Miller, you’d love to have a beer with Simon, and any raceday, plenty have and do. He keeps talking simple and fun, no boast. I’m still waiting for someone to ask him to stand on his head in the corner for a photoshoot, because I reckon, he’d do that too. And he’s a big fan.
Then there are the Walsh’s. Peter the big butcher from Busselton that made it big in cattle, especially in China, but has dreamt of breeding and owning a good horse. He has one, but he wants everyone from his family and extended one to be part of it. No indulgence or entitlement here. There were 22 friends and family on two tables in The Valley’s Jockey Bar Friday night.
And there was a regroup on Sunday where finally Beck’s Amelia’s Army got to socialise with the Walsh clan and others at Melbourne’s hotel home of racing, The Emerald.
Beck had been with horse’s all his life, eventing, showing from when he was 10 at the Donvale Pony Club, getting serious when his parents bought a property at Wonga Park and mum Carol had the saddlery shop at Doncaster. Very serious.
He’s been famous before, front page of the Herald Sun, riding his pony Bobby, sister Lisa on hers Star, at Mordialloc Beach.
“My sister rode as well and we were dragged all over the state competing. It was full time, training morning and night, Del Morris, she was famous, she was my teacher, I won ride-in at Melbourne Royal, my mates were out partying, and I was at the point to points at Lilydale.”
His 17.1hh three-quarter thoroughbred, quarter quarter-horse Romantic Flippant (Flip), was an equestrian star but college life beckoned, a business marketing course at Swinburne, Flip eventually sold to the USA Olympic team, “it just came to a halt so quickly.”
But never the interest in horses. But then never to the extent of Amelia’s Jewel.
“My mate Steve Fitzsimmons, “Fitzy”, was my racing mentor I’d say, he guided me to many great horses, Scenic Blast, Miss Andretti, Weekend Hustler and I loved Bel Sprinter and the story of Miracles Of Life and Eduardo, we started following him naturally with my son Ed, Team Ed we were,” Beck said.
Now it’s Team Amelia and the growing army but how were they recruited?
“We started watching more and more Perth Racing, I loved watching Britt Taylor but it all seemed so more intimate the racing over there, I listened to the podcasts and we found some winners,” he said.
Especially the win of Amelia’s Jewel in the Karrakatta Plate, that’s where it started, black booked and the sting was in. And the passion was to be matched by the punt.
Like the $9000 plonked in the Guineas, unbeknown to anyone on the bus trip to the Tatura Cup last year, those wondering why a man watching a race on a phone suddenly burst into tears.
Quokka day in April was where MerryKirkland got really rocking. The shirts were in and on, the green, red and white balloons full of helium, even an Amelia’s Jewel s coloured whip bought for $150 online from Red Post Equestrian in the UK and stubby holders got a run. You had to be in the livery to get in.
“We had 20 or 30 there, the boys who maybe bet $10 bet $100, the $100 punters maybe bet a thousand, we all loaded up, it was a sick feeling, I felt I let them all down,” Beck said.
The result didn’t go to script, but this was the start of the Amelia’s Army march and long haul.
“It’s been great for my boys and the family and all their mates (Mulgrave Footy club). We’ve got an open-door policy at home, we talk about everything but we have fun, there’s the pool table, the TV’s always footy or racing on and the punt.”
The week before the Let’s Elope, Beck’s boys organised a Simon Miller “Cameo” birthday message for their father, contacting Miller via Instagram and to their surprise, but now no-ones, the engaging wishes from Amelia’s Jewel’s stall by the trainer lobbed.
“Then that day at Flemington when he (Simon) came over to talk to us before the race, he must have had a million things on his mind, but he saw us and knew the story and came over to say hello and chat, what a day,” Beck said.
“And then Friday night, we were there early but were only interested in one race, so we go and see her at the stables, then Lizzie (Jelfs) comes up to us for a chat, there were people everywhere looking at her, Simon comes to saddle her and we are there, then she wins and he throws us the rug and we get into the winners room after the race, just amazing!
“But to have Peter and Annie and Sammi come and talk to us and be so genuine and invite to be part of them, well you just can’t explain it. We are so lucky.”
An end of year footy trip will leave some shirts in the cupboard or on rotation for Toorak Day at Caulfield but expect Amelia’s Army to grow as the deeds do too but along with the engagement between horse, team and fans as well.
As they say – “diamonds are forever”. Maybe there’s a stable name at last for her, Shirley, as in Bassey!
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